Keen, knocked from his mount, did not choose to return to his dragon. The Space Marines following the Knight suits were charging at a speed even the Aeldari found troublesome.
As creations of the Old Ones, the Aeldari were renowned for their strength and swiftness. Though Keen's savage Aeldari were the weakest of the many Aeldari branches, their physical abilities still far surpassed those of ordinary humans.
Only Space Marines, likewise creations of the Emperor, could keep pace with the Aeldari through their powerful senses and the assistance of their power armor.
Deprived of his mount, Keen swung his lance and blocked the heavy axe of the heavily armored Space Wolf before him. After a single exchange, the savage Aeldari's arms would not stop trembling, while the Space Wolf merely rolled his shoulders, signaling for another round.
"Fafnir Bloodpact. Remember the name of the man who cuts off your head."
The Space Wolf introduced himself. He slowly shifted his position, constantly adjusting his center of gravity. Beneath his tactical helmet, his eyes remained fixed on the savage Aeldari's neck, and Keen immediately found himself struggling beneath that overwhelming pressure.
"Keen Franklin. Arrogant humans—when we roamed the stars, you were still nothing but apes."
The savage Aeldari sneered in High Gothic, while the Space Wolf before him merely shook his head indifferently.
"The past is the past, and now is now. So how did you superior species end up being beaten into a panicked retreat by savages like us?"
"That only proves you have fallen behind. You are far inferior to those pale sprouts who fled their homes aboard their arks. Frankly, sending us to deal with savage Aeldari like you is a complete waste of talent."
Fafnir's tongue was even deadlier than his Fenrisian battle-axe. Relying on his speed, Keen